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13 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, August 21, 2009 Local BAG members mean business in town By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Business is their BAG at the Business Advisory Group. The dozen or so members are a "hidden treasure," according to BAG president Bill Vickers of Oakville. "Our members are a certain kind of individual," said Vickers, adding, "Most of them are people who wish they'd never retired." And while they were all business heavyweights in their life before retirement -- if indeed they have yet retired -- most are also involved in some type of philanthropic community work, in addition to the thrill of business they get out of BAG. BAG allows them to do both. It feeds their own passion for business -- without the daily headaches or financial woes -- and allows them to help people for whom paying even $150 for a consultation is a financial strain. Members attend meetings every six weeks and ply their considerable expertise and experience for literally no return on investment other than the business challenge and camaraderie they get out of BAG. Of course, they learn from their clients, too, as these BAG members, all of whom have substantial business backgrounds, share their knowledge with those who need it. Over its 25 years, the group has seen just about every type of small business. And as advisors who will critique a business plan rather than develop one for a client -- and who don't act as financiers, lawyers or accountants -- they will not only help a small businessperson get pointed in the right direction, but will discourage an enterprise that may not work, too. Vice president Don Jarrett recalls the case of an exercise machine that could travel with you -- trouble was it had to be bolted into a wall. "You can't do that," said Jarrett, an Oakville resident whose 42 years as a chartered accountant, led him to be CFO of a national news organization. BAG has helped medical professionals establish their own clinics. Another case involved a woman who made butter tarts in her kitchen and went into business from it. Yet another, is a family-owned and operated business in Burlington that has 50 employees and $8 million in DOUG BALL / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER BUSINESS ADVISORS: Bill Vickers, left, presents a cheque to Michael Feraday, executive director of Junior Achievement Canada at the Oakville Town Hall to mark the Oakville Business Advisory Group's (BAG) 25th anniversary. sales, but effectively uses BAG as its advisory board. Vickers, who worked for Zellers Inc. as comptroller and treasurer and later taught compensation management, said a big mistake for small businesses is trying to be and do everything -- to the point that the business owners forget, or just don't have the time, to figure out where they, or their business, is going. One of BAG's most popular services is a half-day client meeting with typically three of its members who develop an understanding of a client's situation, offer suggestions, and follow up with a written summary. The fee is $150, which covers expenses for members who provide their skills free. Over the years, BAG has assisted more than 1,000 clients. After 25 years in business, so to speak, BAG and its members dipped into their meager budget and handed over a cheque for $2,000 to Michael Feraday, executive director of Junior Achievement (JA) Canada at their annual general meeting held recently at Oakville Town Hall. "It does represent a significant amount of what we have in our assets," said Vickers, adding, "For our 25th anniversary, we wanted to give back to the community and we figured Junior Achievement was a good way to do this." The donation was a means of assisting young people in the field of business and of marking the group's anniversary, said BAG members. For more than 50 years, JA learning experiences have helped young Canadians discover leadership, entrepreneurial and workforce readiness skills so they can achieve their highest potential. From Aug. 8-13, JA Canada will present the 39th annual Canadian Junior Achievement Conference -- jaX `09 Youth Leaders Exchange -- at McMaster University in Hamilton. BAG and its members will participate. For information, e-mail Junior Achievement of Canada at programs@jacan.org. To reach BAG, visit www.smallbusinessadvisory.com. Be an ASSOCIATE Open your heart and home to a person who has a developmental disability / FAMILY HOME PROVIDER The Associate/ Family Home Program is a community living alternative where children and adults with a developmental disability live on a full-time basis with families and participate in all aspects of family life. We are currently recruiting families or individuals who are interested in becoming an Associate/ Family Home Provider. We are looking for people who are committed and want to share their home with a child or adult who has a developmental disability. Interested individuals should reside in or around the Halton Region. They must be able to provide a safe, supportive environment while fostering community connections and providing opportunities for growth and independence. We offer support, training and supervision as well as financial remuneration. For details call or email Robyn Suzuki 905.336.2225 ext. 249 | associatefamilyhome@clburlington.ca Established in 1955, Community Living Burlington is Burlington's oldest & largest non-profit charitable organization. For over 50 years, we have dedicated ourselves to enriching the quality of life, development, and community integration of individuals with developmental disabilities. Your last chance to own a piece of Canadian history! Thursday, August 27th 10am sharp! It was a difficult decision in 2008 to announce the closing of Gibbard Furniture Company after being in business for over 174 years. Less than a year later, as of July 31st, 2009, the factory is officially closed. All remaining inventory has been moved to a warehouse in Brampton (near Pearson Airport) for the FINAL SELL - OFF. Gibbard has awarded Smith Business Solutions Inc. the task of holding a FINAL BLOWOUT SALE of this inventory; and granted Canadians one last chance to own a piece of Canadian history. This inventory blowout begins on Thursday, August 27th. $5 MILLION INVENTORY COMPLETE BLOWOUT SALE BEGINS! Sale located at: 80 Delta Park Blvd. Brampton, ON Directions from Toronto: Hwy 407 North on Airport Rd. Right turn onto Clark Blvd. Left turn onto Delta Park Blvd. DE AR K AP LT S AV E N O W O N A L L L E AT H E R F U R N I T U R E Richardson Sofa RK Directions from Kitchener / Waterloo Hwy 401 - Hwy 407 North on Airport Rd. Right turn onto Clark Blvd. Left turn onto Delta Park Blvd. ER BL VD . SALE $2899 SALE $1799 Richardson Chair Hwy 403 - Hwy 407 North on Airport Rd. Right turn onto Clark Blvd. Left turn onto Delta Park Blvd. WA L SU MM CO RD VE . N SUMMER SALE GO EN ST .E RE WA YR D. QU E N RD EVE . TS Directions from Hamilton: TR Y LV D B . KE R DR AIR . PO LE RT R DE VO N CL A AR D. DS RD . INTER MOD AL RD . INVENTORY WILL NOT LAST! FIRST COME - FIRST SERVED! Bring your vans, pick ups, trucks, trailers! Dealers welcome! Top Grain Leather, Hardwood Frame. Ac ton 4 9 E a s te r n Av. Mon. - Sun. 10-6 519-853-1031 SALE HOURS: MON - FRI 10 -9 SAT 10-6 SUN 12 - 5 For more information please visit www.smithbsi.com ALL SALES FINAL ~ NO EXCHANGES ~ NO REFUNDS ~ ALL ITEMS SUBJECT TO PRIOR SALE & WO O LE AR D. D. 407